K-S2 Prime Lens

dahabit · 07-13-2017, 12:56 PM

Hello Friends,

This probably has been asked a million times, but I still wanted to ask. Can anyone help me with getting a prime lens for my K-S2? I would like to use it for night photography and landscape. I have gone through the list of lenses that has been posted on various threads but since I'm still a beginners, I feel like I'm just confusing myself. My budget would be around $400CAD.

Thanks for all your recommendations.

Na Horuk · 07-13-2017, 01:53 PM

Here are some good lenses in your price range.
With Autofocus: DA 35mm f2.4, DA 40mm XS, DA 50mm f1.8, DA 21mm limited, DA 15mm limited.

No autofocus: Samyang 16mm f2, Samyang 24mm f1.4. Samyang is also sold under name Rokinon, Bower, and some others. These lenses are good optical quality, but no Autofocus. These lenses are sold for Nikon, Canon, Sony, Pentax and others. You need one that is K-mount. It says For Pentax on the box and KP or KR on the lens (as in K-mount Pentax or K-mount Ricoh). Samyang for Nikon or Canon will not fit your camera, because each camera brand has its own mount.

For landscapes, you probably want 35mm or wider. So, focal length 35mm and lower, down to 14mm. Lower than around 20mm is really really wide, and it becomes more difficult to use. 14mm is really wide, so a lot of landscapes become too small for that lens.

So, mostly I recommend Pentax DA 35mm and Samyang 24mm (the 24mm is great for astrophoto and low light photos, DA 35mm is really sharp and fully automatic, but it might not be wide enough for some landscapes. I use the DA 35mm a lot). If you buy used, you can probably get both and then you have a great wide to normal set. You can get DA 21mm limited, its a good wide lens with amazing colours and contrast, but it is only f3.2. This means you will probably need tripod in low light. But it is a great landscape and travel lens

All the lenses mentioned in my post are sharp with good quality, much better than DA L 18-55mm

dahabit · 07-13-2017, 01:58 PM

Originally posted by Na Horuk

Here are some good lenses in your price range.
With Autofocus: DA 35mm f2.4, DA 40mm XS, DA 50mm f1.8, DA 21mm limited, DA 15mm limited.

No autofocus: Samyang 16mm f2, Samyang 24mm f1.4. Samyang is also sold under name Rokinon, Bower, and some others. These lenses are good optical quality, but no Autofocus. These lenses are sold for Nikon, Canon, Sony, Pentax and others. You need one that is K-mount. It says For Pentax on the box and KP or KR on the lens (as in K-mount Pentax or K-mount Ricoh). Samyang for Nikon or Canon will not fit your camera, because each camera brand has its own mount.

For landscapes, you probably want 35mm or wider. So, focal length 35mm and lower, down to 14mm. Lower than around 20mm is really really wide, and it becomes more difficult to use. 14mm is really wide, so a lot of landscapes become too small for that lens.

So, mostly I recommend Pentax DA 35mm and Samyang 24mm (the 24mm is great for astrophoto and low light photos, DA 35mm is really sharp and fully automatic, but it might not be wide enough for some landscapes. I use the DA 35mm a lot). If you buy used, you can probably get both and then you have a great wide to normal set. You can get DA 21mm limited, its a good wide lens with amazing colours and contrast, but it is only f3.2. This means you will probably need tripod in low light

Thank you for your suggestions.

ChristianRock · 07-13-2017, 02:59 PM

Originally posted by dahabit

Hello Friends,

This probably has been asked a million times, but I still wanted to ask. Can anyone help me with getting a prime lens for my K-S2? I would like to use it for night photography and landscape. I have gone through the list of lenses that has been posted on various threads but since I'm still a beginners, I feel like I'm just confusing myself. My budget would be around $400CAD.

Thanks for all your recommendations.

I think for your intended purposes and within your budget, the options are the DA 21 Limited if you want autofocus, and the Rokinon 16mm f2 (made by Samyang) if you like manual focus. The Rokinon could be had new and the Samyang would have to be used, to stay within your budget.

All other suggestions I could think of would probably cost you more, or would be zooms. Which by the way, might be an option to consider if size isn't an issue - there are some good options in the used market for your budget from Sigma (17-50 2.8, 17-70 2.8-4) and Tamron (17-50 2.8).

**patrick9** · 07-13-2017, 06:53 PM

+1 on the Da21. It practically lives on my K-S2. It only comes off when I need a bit narrower like my K55 or macro . Then right back on

**TER-OR** · 07-14-2017, 05:41 AM

21mm is a great FL for ASPC. Images are very much like what you see with your own eyes, and it preserves a lot of contrast. I've even used it for firefly pictures in the yard - long exposures. Plus, pancake lenses are just fun, and you probably have enough budget to get the DA40 as well - both used, of course.

dahabit · 07-14-2017, 10:09 AM

Originally posted by patrick9

+1 on the Da21. It practically lives on my K-S2. It only comes off when I need a bit narrower like my K55 or macro . Then right back on

Is the DA 21 for good low light shots?

john5100 · 07-14-2017, 10:14 AM

It should be fine since it's a semi-wide lens and the camera has IBIS.

BrianR · 07-14-2017, 10:21 AM

What lenses do you currently have? What about them is lacking and making you want a new one? And since you mention night & landscape, do you have and use a tripod?

dahabit · 07-14-2017, 12:21 PM

Originally posted by BrianR

What lenses do you currently have? What about them is lacking and making you want a new one? And since you mention night & landscape, do you have and use a tripod?

I currently just have the kit lens. I just would like something that could take sharper pictures also better low light pictures.

**mattb123** · 07-14-2017, 12:27 PM

DA 40 Limited on the K-S2 looks great and I loved the combo when I had my K-S2.
The drawback is it's a little long for a lot of the kind of landscapes I shoot most of the time. For general around town use it was great.

That Rokinon/Samyang 14/2.8 is good for the price and will work with full frame if you ever might go that way in the future.

**patrick9** · 07-14-2017, 06:53 PM

Originally posted by dahabit

Is the DA 21 for good low light shots?

The blocks are in the shadow of the TV tray with just 2 table lamps lighting the room. ISO 800 and 10000. Straight out of the camera Shot wide open hand held. This hopefully gives a rough idea of what it is capable of Not a good photo by any means but just t show what it can do in darker situations
Last one was taken with window light and ceiling light but wth tripod and iso 1600

Subjektiv · 07-14-2017, 11:16 PM

I also have the K-S2 and I have to say the da40 ltd has become my absolute favourite lens (much because it is perfect for close portraits of friends and family but you don'tq mention portraits) This lens also makes all photos look good (thanks to perspective, colours and sharpness).

Skickat från min GT-I9195 via Tapatalk

---------- Post added 07-14-17 at 11:22 PM ----------

Should say I also like the da 21 very very much! And maybe it suits you better. Both are so small and fun to use and I realised that with a prime you become quicker, don't have to think about the zoom. You can also take a series of shots with either lens and make a panorama afterwards

Skickat från min GT-I9195 via Tapatalk

**clackers** · 07-15-2017, 06:04 AM

There's not much cheaper out there new than the DA35. You're virtually getting an FA35, it's that good.

As Na Horuk points out, if you can live with manual focus, the Samyang 24mm is f1.4. Unlike the Samyang 14mm, it takes screw in filters, which can be important because once you seriously get into landscapes you'll be using ND and CPL filters.

dahabit · 07-17-2017, 08:38 AM

Originally posted by Subjektiv

I also have the K-S2 and I have to say the da40 ltd has become my absolute favourite lens (much because it is perfect for close portraits of friends and family but you don'tq mention portraits) This lens also makes all photos look good (thanks to perspective, colours and sharpness).

Skickat från min GT-I9195 via Tapatalk

---------- Post added 07-14-17 at 11:22 PM ----------

Should say I also like the da 21 very very much! And maybe it suits you better. Both are so small and fun to use and I realised that with a prime you become quicker, don't have to think about the zoom. You can also take a series of shots with either lens and make a panorama afterwards

Skickat från min GT-I9195 via Tapatalk

I think i'm headed down to the da40. thanks for your input.

07-13-2017, 12:56 PM	#1
dahabit Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 62	K-S2 Prime Lens Hello Friends, This probably has been asked a million times, but I still wanted to ask. Can anyone help me with getting a prime lens for my K-S2? I would like to use it for night photography and landscape. I have gone through the list of lenses that has been posted on various threads but since I'm still a beginners, I feel like I'm just confusing myself. My budget would be around $400CAD. Thanks for all your recommendations.

07-13-2017, 01:53 PM	#2
Na Horuk Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Slovenia, probably Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,186	Here are some good lenses in your price range. With Autofocus: DA 35mm f2.4, DA 40mm XS, DA 50mm f1.8, DA 21mm limited, DA 15mm limited. No autofocus: Samyang 16mm f2, Samyang 24mm f1.4. Samyang is also sold under name Rokinon, Bower, and some others. These lenses are good optical quality, but no Autofocus. These lenses are sold for Nikon, Canon, Sony, Pentax and others. You need one that is K-mount. It says For Pentax on the box and KP or KR on the lens (as in K-mount Pentax or K-mount Ricoh). Samyang for Nikon or Canon will not fit your camera, because each camera brand has its own mount. For landscapes, you probably want 35mm or wider. So, focal length 35mm and lower, down to 14mm. Lower than around 20mm is really really wide, and it becomes more difficult to use. 14mm is really wide, so a lot of landscapes become too small for that lens. So, mostly I recommend Pentax DA 35mm and Samyang 24mm (the 24mm is great for astrophoto and low light photos, DA 35mm is really sharp and fully automatic, but it might not be wide enough for some landscapes. I use the DA 35mm a lot). If you buy used, you can probably get both and then you have a great wide to normal set. You can get DA 21mm limited, its a good wide lens with amazing colours and contrast, but it is only f3.2. This means you will probably need tripod in low light. But it is a great landscape and travel lens All the lenses mentioned in my post are sharp with good quality, much better than DA L 18-55mm Last edited by Na Horuk; 07-13-2017 at 01:59 PM.

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07-13-2017, 01:58 PM	#3
dahabit Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 62 Original Poster	Originally posted by Na Horuk Here are some good lenses in your price range. With Autofocus: DA 35mm f2.4, DA 40mm XS, DA 50mm f1.8, DA 21mm limited, DA 15mm limited. No autofocus: Samyang 16mm f2, Samyang 24mm f1.4. Samyang is also sold under name Rokinon, Bower, and some others. These lenses are good optical quality, but no Autofocus. These lenses are sold for Nikon, Canon, Sony, Pentax and others. You need one that is K-mount. It says For Pentax on the box and KP or KR on the lens (as in K-mount Pentax or K-mount Ricoh). Samyang for Nikon or Canon will not fit your camera, because each camera brand has its own mount. For landscapes, you probably want 35mm or wider. So, focal length 35mm and lower, down to 14mm. Lower than around 20mm is really really wide, and it becomes more difficult to use. 14mm is really wide, so a lot of landscapes become too small for that lens. So, mostly I recommend Pentax DA 35mm and Samyang 24mm (the 24mm is great for astrophoto and low light photos, DA 35mm is really sharp and fully automatic, but it might not be wide enough for some landscapes. I use the DA 35mm a lot). If you buy used, you can probably get both and then you have a great wide to normal set. You can get DA 21mm limited, its a good wide lens with amazing colours and contrast, but it is only f3.2. This means you will probably need tripod in low light Thank you for your suggestions.

07-13-2017, 02:59 PM	#4
ChristianRock Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: People's Republic of America Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,910	Originally posted by dahabit Hello Friends, This probably has been asked a million times, but I still wanted to ask. Can anyone help me with getting a prime lens for my K-S2? I would like to use it for night photography and landscape. I have gone through the list of lenses that has been posted on various threads but since I'm still a beginners, I feel like I'm just confusing myself. My budget would be around $400CAD. Thanks for all your recommendations. I think for your intended purposes and within your budget, the options are the DA 21 Limited if you want autofocus, and the Rokinon 16mm f2 (made by Samyang) if you like manual focus. The Rokinon could be had new and the Samyang would have to be used, to stay within your budget. All other suggestions I could think of would probably cost you more, or would be zooms. Which by the way, might be an option to consider if size isn't an issue - there are some good options in the used market for your budget from Sigma (17-50 2.8, 17-70 2.8-4) and Tamron (17-50 2.8).

07-13-2017, 06:53 PM	#5
patrick9 Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Murfreesboro Tennessee Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,458	+1 on the Da21. It practically lives on my K-S2. It only comes off when I need a bit narrower like my K55 or macro . Then right back on

07-14-2017, 05:41 AM	#6
TER-OR Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Dundee, IL Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,699	21mm is a great FL for ASPC. Images are very much like what you see with your own eyes, and it preserves a lot of contrast. I've even used it for firefly pictures in the yard - long exposures. Plus, pancake lenses are just fun, and you probably have enough budget to get the DA40 as well - both used, of course.

07-14-2017, 10:09 AM	#7
dahabit Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 62 Original Poster	Originally posted by patrick9 +1 on the Da21. It practically lives on my K-S2. It only comes off when I need a bit narrower like my K55 or macro . Then right back on Is the DA 21 for good low light shots?

07-14-2017, 10:14 AM	#8
john5100 Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 1,725	It should be fine since it's a semi-wide lens and the camera has IBIS.

07-14-2017, 10:21 AM	#9
BrianR Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Ontario Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,332	What lenses do you currently have? What about them is lacking and making you want a new one? And since you mention night & landscape, do you have and use a tripod?

07-14-2017, 12:21 PM	#10
dahabit Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 62 Original Poster	Originally posted by BrianR What lenses do you currently have? What about them is lacking and making you want a new one? And since you mention night & landscape, do you have and use a tripod? I currently just have the kit lens. I just would like something that could take sharper pictures also better low light pictures.

07-14-2017, 12:27 PM	#11
mattb123 Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Colorado High Country Photos: Gallery Posts: 10,872	DA 40 Limited on the K-S2 looks great and I loved the combo when I had my K-S2. The drawback is it's a little long for a lot of the kind of landscapes I shoot most of the time. For general around town use it was great. That Rokinon/Samyang 14/2.8 is good for the price and will work with full frame if you ever might go that way in the future.

07-14-2017, 11:16 PM	#13
Subjektiv Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2017 Posts: 53	I also have the K-S2 and I have to say the da40 ltd has become my absolute favourite lens (much because it is perfect for close portraits of friends and family but you don'tq mention portraits) This lens also makes all photos look good (thanks to perspective, colours and sharpness). Skickat från min GT-I9195 via Tapatalk ---------- Post added 07-14-17 at 11:22 PM ---------- Should say I also like the da 21 very very much! And maybe it suits you better. Both are so small and fun to use and I realised that with a prime you become quicker, don't have to think about the zoom. You can also take a series of shots with either lens and make a panorama afterwards Skickat från min GT-I9195 via Tapatalk

07-15-2017, 06:04 AM	#14
clackers Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Melbourne Photos: Albums Posts: 16,397	There's not much cheaper out there new than the DA35. You're virtually getting an FA35, it's that good. As Na Horuk points out, if you can live with manual focus, the Samyang 24mm is f1.4. Unlike the Samyang 14mm, it takes screw in filters, which can be important because once you seriously get into landscapes you'll be using ND and CPL filters.

07-17-2017, 08:38 AM	#15
dahabit Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 62 Original Poster	Originally posted by Subjektiv I also have the K-S2 and I have to say the da40 ltd has become my absolute favourite lens (much because it is perfect for close portraits of friends and family but you don'tq mention portraits) This lens also makes all photos look good (thanks to perspective, colours and sharpness). Skickat från min GT-I9195 via Tapatalk ---------- Post added 07-14-17 at 11:22 PM ---------- Should say I also like the da 21 very very much! And maybe it suits you better. Both are so small and fun to use and I realised that with a prime you become quicker, don't have to think about the zoom. You can also take a series of shots with either lens and make a panorama afterwards Skickat från min GT-I9195 via Tapatalk I think i'm headed down to the da40. thanks for your input.